Sealing screen for waste dumps

Abstract

A sealing screen for waste dumps, e.g., for garbage dumps and the like, consisting of protective impermeable layers. The layers include two sealing layers and a control filter layer that is interposed between sealing layers. Two piping systems, an injection line and a second line system, are arranged within the control filter layer. The sealing screen has individual areas which are partitioned off from each other by means of sealing connections between and perpendicular to the sealing layers. A collector shaft or a tunnel are provided for checking the seal integrity in each individual area. A drainage layer with a drainage line system is arranged above the top protective layer, and a sealing layer is provided for protection above the drainage layer against damage from the dumping of waste into the dump. In the event that the seal fails in a particular area, the control filter layer is filled with a hardening and sealing material via the pipes of the injection line for that area, with the result that the integrity of the seal is reestablished.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A sealing screen for a waste dump, comprising: a first sealing layer forming a first impermeable seal;   a control filter layer adjoining said first sealing layer;   an injection line system located in said control filter layer for injecting sealing material into said control filter layer;   a second piping system located in said control filter layer for inspecting the sealing screen and removing gas and liquid from said control filter layer;   a second sealing layer adjoining said control filter layer opposite to said first sealing layer forming a second impermeable seal;   a plurality of impermeable sealing connections perpendicular to and connecting said first and second sealing layers for dividing the sealing screen into a plurality of individual areas, each of said areas being impermeably sealed from each other;   a drain layer adjoining said second sealing layer opposite said control filter layer having a drainage line system for removing water drained from waste material deposited in the waste dump; and   a covering layer adjoining said drain layer for protecting said drain layer.   
     
     
       2. A sealing screen for a waste dump according to claim 1, further comprising an access tunnel for allowing access to each of said individual areas for inspecting each of said areas for seal integrity. 
     
     
       3. A sealing screen for a waste dump according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of inspection and collection shafts, one corresponding to each of said areas, for allowing access to said injection line system and said second piping system for inspecting each of said areas for seal integrity. 
     
     
       4. A sealing screen for a waste dump according to claim 3, wherein said injection line system is construction with collar pipes. 
     
     
       5. A sealing screen for a waste dump according to claim 4, wherein said injection line system for each of said individual areas comprises a plurality of individual collar pipes each having an end valve. 
     
     
       6. A sealing screen for a waste dump according to claim 5, wherein the sealing material injected by said injection line system is selected for the waste material deposited in the dump. 
     
     
       7. A sealing screen for a wasate dump according to claim 3, wherein said first and second sealing layers consist of a mineral material. 
     
     
       8. A sealing screen for a waste dump according to claim 3, wherein said first and second sealing layers consist of plastic foil. 
     
     
       9. A sealing screen for a waste dump according to claim 3, wherein one of said sealing layers consists of a mineral material and the other of said sealing layers consists of plastic foil. 
     
     
       10. A sealing screen for a waste dump according to claim 3, wherein said sealing screen can be oriented in any direction. 
     
     
       11. A method for detecting seal integrity of a sealing screen having first and second impermeable sealing layers separated by a control filter layer, said method comprising the steps of: producing a partial vacuum in the control filter layer;   monitoring the control filter layer for a change in pressure representative of a lack of seal integrity; and   injecting sealing material into the control filter layer in response to the change in pressure representative of a lack of seal integrity.   
     
     
       12. A method for detecting lack of seal integrity in a sealing screen for a wasate dump having first and second impermeable sealing layers separated by a control filter layer before the waste dump is operational, said method comprising the steps of: injecting a gas having a predetermined pressure into the control filter layer;   monitoring the control filter layer for a change in pressure indicative of a lack of seal integrity; and   repairing the sealing layers in response to the pressure change indicative of a lack of seal integrity.